Tag Archives: ohio

I just returned from another trip to Ohio where I led one of the field workshops at The Biggest Week in American Birding: Techniques for Better Bird Photography Field workshop led by Christopher Taylor.

The Toledo Blade was on location interviewing me as I broke down the basics of bird photography to the participants of my class. The article can be found here, ‘Shooters’ look for prize bird.

Every spring and fall, many millions of songbirds migrate long distances between nesting grounds in Canada or the northern United States and wintering grounds in the southern U.S. or the tropics. These birds mostly fly at night and spend the days resting and feeding. Although some birds may stop over practically anywhere, a few areas are major stopover habitats, critically important to the survival of large numbers of birds. One such region involves a series of sites along the south shore of Lake Erie, in the northwestern part of the state of Ohio.

Because of the sheer numbers and variety of birds concentrating here, thousands of birders come to northwest Ohio every spring and fall, providing a significant boost to the local economy. For example, the Ohio Division of Wildlife estimated 50,000 birders visiting the area during the first two weeks of May in 2010.

Blackburnian Warbler

Unfortunately, the habitats that support the migratory birds are now threatened by proposals to build wind turbines nearby. Wind industry consultants suggest that birds will be unaffected, because the birds usually migrate at heights of more than 500 feet above the ground. But this does not apply at major stopover sites, where vast numbers of birds are taking off or landing. And because the birds mostly migrate at night, they are taking off or landing in the dim light of dusk or pre-dawn, when it would be most difficult for them to see obstacles such as wind turbines.

Kirtland’s Warbler

Black Swamp Bird Observatory has more than 20 years of data proving that this region is globally significant for migratory birds. But studies are just beginning to establish the rate of climb or descent for birds leaving or arriving in these stopover habitats, so it is too early to say how much of a buffer zone would be needed around major stopover sites to avoid killing huge numbers of birds.

Black-and-white Warbler

Considering the importance of these stopover habitats to both the migratory birds and the local economy, we urge you to support a three-year moratorium on the building of any additional wind turbines within the area of greatest concern: specifically, within three miles of the Lake Erie shoreline in Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Erie Counties.

This morning @ 9:15 AM Kenn Kaufman found a 2Y male Kirtland’s Warbler along the beach at Crane Creek. I was notified immediately by his Twitter posting which I have texting my cell phone! I rushed out from East Cleveland as soon as I was able to and arrived just before dusk. The large group of people still observing the KIWA got me on the bird immediately and I was able to capture some stunning images before the sun set in the distance.

Here’s an excerpt from Kenn’s blog:

“At about 9:15 a.m. I was lucky enough to find a male Kirtland’s Warbler. I was luckier still that it stayed around: I sent out the word via Twitter and cell phone, hundreds of people arrived during the next four hours while I was there, and it was still being seen after 4:30 pm. The location was along the east (wildlife) beach about 300 yards east of the parking lot. The bird was feeding low for the entire time, sometimes hopping on the ground, sometimes foraging among low branches of sumacs or willows, or even among brush piles. Often it was amazingly easy to see, and several times it flew toward crowds of people and foraged unconcernedly within a few yards of its admirers. I’m sure it was seen by over a thousand birders, and undoubtedly tens of thousands of photos were taken; this is probably the most-photographed Kirtland’s Warbler in history!”

So after spending 10 days in Florida and Everglades I did not see one Purple Gallinule. Who would have known I come to Ohio three weeks later and have one almost walk over my feet! I even recorded it all with my iPhone. Hooray for iPhone 3GS video.

It was Mother’s Day and the Magee Marsh boardwalk was packed to the hilt! Fortunately I missed the even larger crowd the previous day [International Migratory Bird Day].

The morning started off pretty chilly at 35F and barely got past 45F by mid-afternoon. Other than that it was a gorgeous, sunny day! Most of the passerines present had been there a couple days already since weather conditions were not conducive to continue on their path north the previous nights.

Had a lot of fun shooting with some old pals that I’ve met on previous trips to Ohio. My friend’s grandson snapped this pic of me. See if you can spot me in it below!